China Eastern Airlines Corp. said Friday it would buy 80 Boeing single-aisle jets including the new 737 Max version amid a wave of aircraft purchases by Chinese carriers from the U.S. plane maker and its European rival Airbus Group NV.

The airline is buying 60 of the 737 Max jets, which will feature new engines, and 20 current model 737s with deliveries due from 2016, said a China Eastern executive who declined to be named. The airline hasn't decided which version of the 737 Max to acquire and could take some of the largest...